Over 1,000 posters and educational resources have been distributed in an effort to raise awareness of the dangers of modern slavery among homeless people as part of the Clewer Initiative.

According to statistics from the National Crime Agency, the number of potential victims of trafficking and modern slavery reported to the authorities has risen by more than 80 per cent in two years, while a 2019 Modern Slavery Helpline report revealed 7% of the Helpline’s modern slavery cases since their launch in October 2016 were linked to homelessness.

The Let’s Talk initiative is encouraging night shelters and other outreach services such as soup kitchens to share concerns of potential human trafficking with the Modern Slavery Helpline or other local support services.

Volunteers are also being provided with guidance to safeguard their guests from danger.

The Rt Revd Dr Alastair Redfern, Chair of The Clewer Initiative, said: “Time and time again in our work around the country we meet volunteers and project leaders who have encountered modern slavery and have either not recognised it, or not known what to do about it.

“With rising numbers of homeless people on our streets, it is even more important that we are able to recognise the signs. With the Let’s Talk resources we will equip the Church to understand what modern slavery looks like, and how they can respond to…

The Bishop of Colchester, Roger Morris, joined Christian climate activists at Trafalgar Square on Sunday in a time of prayer and worship for the climate crisis before moving to Scotland Yard to join members of the XR Disabled Rebels to urge police to return equipment confiscated from the activists.

A number of people with disabilities were reportedly prevented from taking part in the demonstrations after crucial equipment including ramps and wheelchairs were impounded by the Met Police a week ago.

Bishop Roger lead environmental protesters in a service of Holy Communion at the site, in an act of “fellowship”, “worship” and “solidarity.”

In a statement released by Christian Climate Action, the Bishop of Colchester praised God for the rebel group, saying: “When our very existence is threatened by our insatiable exploitation of this precious earth, we have to speak up and we have to take action.

“This is a wake-up call to the world. It is prophetic. So I thank God for Extinction Rebellion and I pray that their voice may be heard – for all our sakes.”

Father Martin Newell, from the Passionist Order in Birmingham, who was also present on Sunday, was arrested by police when he attempted to glue himself to the floor in support of disabled protesters.

When asked why he was part of XR, Father Newell said: “I am here to help raise the alarm, to call for a profound ecological conversion. The…

The evangelical PM facilitated a peace agreement with neighbouring Eritrea three months after taking up office, to help resolve a 20-year border conflict in the region.

The 100th Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Ahmed for his “decisive initiative”, at an Olso ceremony in December.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee stated: “Abiy Ahmed has initiated important reforms that give many citizens hope for a better life and a brighter future.”

Following the announcement, Ahmed said he was “humbled and thrilled”.

In a post on Twitter, he said: “My deepest gratitude to all committed and working for peace. This award is for Ethiopia and the African continent. We shall prosper in peace!” 

I am humbled by the decision of the Norwegian Nobel Committee. My deepest gratitude to all committed and working for peace. This award is for Ethiopia and the African continent. We shall prosper in peace!

— Abiy Ahmed Ali (@AbiyAhmedAli) October 11, 2019

In addition to signing the peace deal, Ahmed who became Prime Minister in 2018, introduced liberalising reforms, addressed government corruption, and pledged to strengthen democracy.

This is not the first time Ahmed has been recognised for his peace efforts, in 2018 he was given a special “peace and reconciliation” award by the Ethiopian Church for helping to reconcile two branches of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, which split in…

A joint statement from Scottish faith communities, signed by representatives from Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Islamic faiths, declares a “moral responsibility” to address the problem.

Published at the end of Challenge Poverty Week, the show of unity and solidarity from leaders of different religions calls for more action to “tackle the rising tide of poverty.”

The message is directed to both the UK and Scottish governments, in addition to local authorities, and states: “It is not right that so many people are trapped in poverty.

“We have a moral responsibility to change this.

“Challenge Poverty Week is a chance to raise our voices and highlight what we can do as a society to loosen the grip of poverty.”

The 15 signatories of the statement include the Archbishop Emeritus of the Roman Catholic Church Mario Conti, Glasgow Central Mosque Immam Maulana Habib Ur Rehman Moderator of the Church of Scotland Rev Colin Sinclair, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church Revd Mark Strange, Chair of the Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society Shabir Beg; Interfaith representative for the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities Alan Kay and Hindu Priest Acharya Ji Mishra.

Rev Strange said: “I am very aware that across Scotland, many families and individuals are continually living lives of struggle and stress as they find it impossible to reconcile the needs of their children and loved one with…

‘LecDeck” is a deck of 52 cards, each containing a liturgical Bible reading, together with a focus for prayer, weekly challenge, and questions for contemplation and discussion.

The idea came from the Bristol Diocese Youth and Children’s Adviser, Dan Jones, after recognising a lack of youth-based resources focusing on the lectionary – a selection of scripture readings appointed for public worship in the Anglican Church.

The discipleship tool has been created for use at youth clubs, home groups, and Christian Unions as well as for personal study.

Jones said he hoped to celebrate the “glories of the Church of England’s liturgical worship” through the multi-functional resource and help young people find “depth and meaning in the lectionary readings”.

“As part of the rich Anglican heritage, the lectionary provides pre-selected Bible readings to use during worship or personal study throughout the year,” he added.

“Our hope is that LecDeck enables young people to grow deeper in their relationship with God.”

Stay up to date with the latest news stories from a Christian perspective. Sign up to our daily newsletter and receive more stories like this straight to your inbox every morning.

The Victorian priest, hymn writer, and poet was declared a Saint before a congregation of 20,000, at an open-air ceremony in St Peter’s Square.

The leader of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, Cardinal Vincent Nichols was alongside the Pope to witness the canonisation of the first English saint of the modern age.

Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols told Premier it’s a day of celebration for Britain’s Catholics: “I’ve been describing it as a party.

“It is just a moment of great joy that this man who whose life is so full, and whose sensitivities are so important, and who struggles through so many difficulties, we can see much more clearly into his heart. And what a great disciple of Christ he was.”

The former Anglican priest controversially converted to Catholicism in 1845 and went on to found a society of priests known as the Birmingham Oratory in 1848.

Cardinal Nichols honoured Newman’s dedication to the people of Birmingham, where he served as a parishioner for 40 years.

“He was an outstanding example for us of a priest working in a parish,” Nichols said.

“Newman worked quite quietly in the parish in Birmingham, where he served the people who serve the poor.”

The theologian, who was made a cardinal in 1879 spoke to many about issues of faith, education and conscience through his various writings and has been described as one of the most…

Mr Justice Williams ruled the woman’s pregnancy could be terminated after analysing the case at a hearing in the Court of Protection, where judges consider issues relating to people who lack the mental capacity to make decisions, in London on Friday.

A lawyer representing hospital bosses said a surgical termination would be performed this week.

The judge heard how a GP had recently discovered that the woman, who is in her 20s but has the mental capacity of a toddler, was pregnant.

He was told that a police investigation was under way.

The woman might have been raped or been made pregnant by a man who also had learning disabilities and a lack of understanding, the judge said.

Police would carry out DNA tests in a bid to establish the identity of the father, he was told.

Bosses at a NHS hospital trust responsible for the woman’s care had asked him to allow doctors to perform a surgical termination.

Barrister Eloise Power, who represented hospital bosses, said the woman had lived with foster carers for most of her life.

Ms Power said the woman’s foster parents were Christians and churchgoers.

But she said the couple were sure that an abortion was in the woman’s best interests.

Ms Power said medical specialists and council social workers involved also all agreed that a surgical termination was the right option.

Mr Justice Williams said medics could restrain the woman in…

Church of Jesus Anointing in Sirsa, in the Haryana region, first opened its doors in August this year to a congregation of over 200 following a church funded development project that began in December 2017.

According to religious freedom network British Asian Christian Association (BACA), the church received a letter from the local authorities within a week of opening, instructing them to cease use of the building due to a lack of planning permission.

On 31st August a team of police, military officers and municipal officials began to demolish the building, flattening its main hall and boundary wall without prior warning of physical action.

BACA claims no other buildings have faced further action from the council despite it reportedly being common for houses and temples within the surrounding area to be built without planning permission.

Church pastor, Newton Das says he’s concerned the swift destruction of their building was an act of religious persecution.

He said: “The saddest thing was that the Committee only demolished the church whereas all other houses and temples built there in the same colony are still there.

“Church members are feeling a great sense of great sorrow and loss our investment has been destroyed.

“It was a great loss of funds which were raised, our hours volunteering have been laid waste – with…